Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo tells a story that evokes emotion. I’ve read Poet X, which I loved, and With The Fire On High is on my ‘Want to read’ list. I knew that she was not to be played with when it came to writing. Acevedo so beautifully tells the story of these two sisters in Clap When You Land that I often felt that I was the fly on the wall in their lives.
Following a fatal plane crash, two unknowing sisters lose their father but discover one another. Acevedo’s writing style invites us into Camino and Yahaira’s differing perspectives in each chapter. This is a story that acknowledges family ties, immigration, poverty, and predatory behavior. As always, I am not going to give you any more of the plot because I want you to read the book.
My Review
I could not imagine finding out I have a sibling as I grieve the loss of a parent. Even thinking about it makes me uneasy. However, when grieving you seek solace in things that remind of the person lost. To potentially have someone that you could connect with seems ideal. In the case of these two sisters, money definitely becomes the defining factor. What makes it even harder to read, is the idea that coming to America would be the solution and escape of life in the Domincan Republic. I know that I am not well versed in international relations, but I would like to better understand how and why many immigrants believe they can be granted a better life in America.
Acevedo writes this book in verse, which I actually loved. The writing style made the text a lot more digestible. There are not a thousand words on the page. You are able to easily follow the flow of the story but also receive the emotions behind the words. It also gave me the vibe of being more personal.
I am studying Spanish now. I love the sprinkle of Spanish throughout the book because it allowed me to exercise some of the Spanish I have learned. However, there were moments that I did not know what was being said. In my digital copy from Libby there was no glossary so I was pretty much using context clues to figure out what was being said.
I would definitely recommend others to read this book, as well as other books by Elizabeth Acevedo. It is a great glimpse into the stark contrast being life in America and life abroad, particularly for immigrants. I would love to read more books about the immigrant/migrant experience. If you have any recommendations, please share!
